Providing for Further Consideration of H.R. 1735, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. NORCROSS. Mr. Speaker, the rule before us today allows for an amendment that touches on a matter very personal to me, an issue that impacts our Nation on the battlefield and for families struggling with an immigration system that is certainly dysfunctional.

November 12, last year, right there in that seat, I was sitting by my grandson's side when I was sworn in as a Member of this House, one of the proudest days of my life. Certainly, my grandson was looking forward to it.

If the Gallego amendment on DREAMers that we are debating here later today were in effect, my grandson wouldn't be here. My granddaughter wouldn't be here.

My son was serving in the Army in South Korea when he met a girl who was serving our great Nation. They fell in love and got married. They moved back to Fort Hood, Texas, serving our country, where they had my first grandchild, one of the proudest days I have ever seen. They continued to serve our great country, raising their child, when I got a call late one night with my son crying, saying: ``They are going to deport my wife.''

We didn't know she wasn't an American. She volunteered to lay down her life for our country. My son didn't know she wasn't an American citizen; yet she is that DREAMer that we are talking about. She is the American Dream, one who comes to this country and decides to serve it.

This brings us forward to today. My grandson is here; yet we are still debating. For the people that volunteer, the greatest thing they can do is lay down their lives for our country, and we are denying them an opportunity for them to serve our country.

Where are we as a nation, that great melting pot? The strength that makes our country is where we all come from.

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Mr. NORCROSS. My daughter-in-law only knew America. As far as her memory went, she was here. She went to school with all the other kids, as you heard other people speak about. That is why I am urging us to reject what I think is one of the most cruel things we can do to those who come to our country and want to be American citizens.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the amendment and not deny those people who want to serve our country that ability to serve.

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